Craig has been busy designing new brochure stands and is now installing them around New Paltz. It will be easier to find our detailed town maps at many more locations around town. Just look for the info icon.

The Best of Your Town 2016 map of New Paltz, NY is here, and better than ever.

Our 2016 map is available (for free!) at dozens of locations around town, and online on your phone, tablet or computer. Last year, we distributed over 25,000 copies. The new maps are going fast, and the presses are rolling for an even larger distribution of the 2016 version.

This year’s map has lots of new businesses and attractions, and the 2016 online version is faster and easier to use than ever. Use our map to discover new businesses, restaurants, services, lodging and attractions, and find an ever-growing list of places that make New Paltz so special.

Whether in print, or our online interactive version, our map is fun to use and sure to help you uncover some new hidden gems of New Paltz that are sure to become your favorites.

Pick up a copy of our new map at locations all over town, and use the online version whenever you want to explore the Best Of Your Town!

Craig Shankles, 63, has started www.BestofYourTown.com — a marketing venture that aims to promote everything New Paltz. Its first major product is an illustrated, cartoon map of every business in the college town.

“Its focus is to help small businesses at a local level,” he explained.

Craig Shankles. (photo by Lauren Thomas)

Shankles sees a world where smartphones have changed retail forever — a world where behemoths like Amazon, eBay and Wal-Mart have a stranglehold on the marketplace.

“These behemoths have the power and the money to really crush small businesses,” he said.

Smartphones too have created a pickier, more-informed customer. If they can get it cheaper by ordering it online, they will — even if that means “showrooming” it at local store. “The technology is here in everybody’s hands.”

Far from panicking, Shankles sees it with passion. It’s a new era of business to learn about and master.

At the end of the day, we need a healthy business community

“I truly love being in business,” he said. “At the end of the day, we need a healthy business community.”

The map … illustrated by Mathew Maley and designed by Ad Essentials, … is a visual guide to what is available in New Paltz.

Shankles noted that many communities have shopping district maps, but they researched what worked and what didn’t. Maley also stuffed the map with inside jokes — putting in the Women in Black protestors and skydivers from The Ranch. It bleeds hometown pride in subtle ways — a way that most locals will get immediately. They printed 15,000 maps initially — all of them are gone.

“It’s fun. It’s attractive. It’s easy to read,” he said. “I sold that map out in two weeks.”

Shankles added: “The business community really supported that project.”

While the 2014 map is print-only, eventually it could become an interactive app or website — guiding locals and out-of-towners to shops downtown.